Fluorescent lamp fixture



.Ban. )1, 1945. H. u. SCHOCKETT 2,367,472

FLUORESCENT LAMP FIXTURE Filed may 31, 1943 HAR RYf-U. SCHOCKETT INVENTOR.

Patented Jan. 16, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE 2,367,472 r FLUORESCENT LAMP FIXTURE l l 3' Harry U. Schockett, Denver, Colo. Application May 31, 1943, Serial No.489.236

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in electrical fixtures and has reference more particularly to an improved construction of fluorescent fixture.

The use of fluorescent lamps for industrial and commercial illumination is progressing very rapidly and a large number offixtures for use, in connection with such lamps have been invented and patented.

At the present time, due to the scarcity of metal, the weight of metal is limited to a prescribed amount which makes it very difiicult to provide suitable fixtures for forty-eight inch lamps and still remain within the minimum weight,

It is the object of this invention to produce. an electric fixture of such a construction that a solid and substantial fixture can be constructedwithin the prescribed limits ofmetal.

Another object is to produce a fixture of such a. construction that it can be manufactured and assembled ata comparatively low cost in labor.

A further object of the invention is to produce a fixture of such a construction that the lamps can readily be removed and replaced and in which this operation does not require the removal of any parts of the fixture.

A further object of the invention is to produce a fixture of such construction that light from the lamps will strike that portion of the ceiling Cllrectly above the fixture, as Well as to the sides and underneath thereof.

The above and other objects that may become apparent as this description proceeds are attained by means of a constructionand an arrangement,

of parts that will now be described in detail, and for this purpose reference will be had to the accompanying drawing in which the invention has been illustrated in its preferred form, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a fluorescent lamp fixture constructed in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is a cross section taken on line 2--2, Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end elevation looking in the direction of arrows 3, Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section taken on-the vertical diameter 4-4, Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an end view looking through plane 5-5, Figure 4;'

Figure 5a is a view similar to that shown in Figure 5, but to a somewhat enlarged scale; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary section taken on line 6-6, Figure 5a.

- Inthe drawing reference numeral Ill designates the body of the fixture which, in this case, is in the shap of an elongated tubular cylinde aformed from sheet metal. Reference numeral ll designates two ballasts which, inthe embodimentillustrated, are substantially squarein cross section as shown in Figure 2. The innerdiameter. of the body I B is so chosen that it-is substantially equal to the diagonal dimensions of the j-bal-lasts-and when the latter isof square cros's section the four corners will engag the inner surface of the body as shown in- Figure '2 and this will hold the ballasts fro-m transverse movement. For the purpose of holding the ballasts in a predetermined long tudinal position,-they havebeen shown as secured to a strap 12 by means of screws 13. The strap extends from each end-ofthe ballast or ballasts and is either longer or of substantially. the

same length as the body .I 0, and therefore terminates adjacent the ends of the latter. Screws. f4 may be used to hold, the-strap-frornlongitudinal movement relative to the body. Screws -l4 also serve to hold the sector-shaped bracket l-5in place. The purpose and the construction of this. bracket will be more fully explainedhereinafterv At this point it will be explained that although the ballasts have been illustrated as-having a square cross section, this is not essential,-the-idea being that regardless ofthe cross sectional-shape of the ballast, the inner dimension of the tubular body shall be such as to hold the-ballast from transverse movement by contact with the wall surface.

In the presentembodiment a fixture employingfour fluorescent lamps, which havebeen-designated' by reference numeral l6, is-employed and illuminate the ceiling directly above the fixture,

as well as light the walls and floor. In many fixtures of this type there is an unilluminated area above the fixture. The bracket l5 to which reference has already been made, is provided with an arcuate flange l8 through which the screws or stove bolts l4 pass and which serve to secure this bracket firmly to the end of the fixture body.

This bracket is made of sheet metal of sufiicient thickness to give the required rigidity. At the point coinciding with the axis of the cylinder, a

tapped hole I9 is positioned and the end closures 20 are secured to the brackets by means of screws 2|. Referring to Figure 1, attention is called to the cut-out or gap 22 in the flange of one end closure. This gap can bemoved into radial position with respect to any of the four lamps'and makes it possible to remove and replace the lamps without removing the end closure. The fixture. is supported by two tubular members 23 that are attached to the fixture by means of pins or bolts passing through the upwardly projecting metal parts 24. Housings 25 enclose the lower ends of the supporting pipes 23 to give the fixture-a finished appearance. Electrical connections between the wires may also be positioned inside of the housing 25. Although screws l4- have been shown as securing the strap and the end brackets in place, it is evident that stove bolts or any other suitable means can be employed for this purpose. It will be observed that the brackets l5 are provided with openings 26 through which the person assembling'the fixture can insert his finger so as to position the nut or for-urging the ends of the strap upwardly.

The use of a cylindrical tubular body for the purpose indicated makes it possible toconstruct a fixture having a more pleasing appearancethan if other shapes were used. A cylindrical body is very rigid and is more easily formed thanother shapes. Ballasts having rectangular or some other form of non-circular cross' section. can be held firmly in position within a-cylindricalhousing by making the diameter of the latter substantially equal to or slightly less than thegreatest transverse diagonal dimension oftheballast as is clearly evidentfrom Figure'2. With a ballast of rectangular cross section and a cylindrical housing, spaces are provided for wiresand/or anchoring straps. In the drawing the" overlapping of the edges of'the-body-has not been shown, but it is'to be understood that the body is constructed in accordance with usual sheetmetal shop practice and in the present-instance, the body is formed by-curving a sheet of metal; overlapping the edges andthen securingthem by spot-welding.

By securing a strap (2 to one=or-more-ballasts-,- the latter can be inserted and positioned withthe" minimum amount of labor-for the reasonthat where two ballasts are employed, they are prop-- erly spaced along the strap-before the assemblyis inserted and during the operation of positioning the ballasts the strap can beusedionmoving them in either direction. The method of fastening the ends of the strap to the body can be varied from that shown in the drawing without departing from the invention which is not limited. to this specific detail.

Where the term. anchoring? is used. in thev claims in connection-with strap, I2 it: is to be. understood as covering any suitable means for resisting forces tending to movev the strap-and the ballast longitudinally in the; tubular. body: Since the strap has considerablerigidity and can.

body to prevent longitudinal movement of the be made as rigid as desired, it is evident that since it is the same length as body l0, its engagement with brackets l5 will prevent longitudinal displacement even though screws I4 are omitted.

From the above description it will be apparent that the fixture shown and described herein is of a simple and substantial construction; that it can be readily assembled; that the lamps can be readily inserted and removed for replacement or for cleaning andthat the fixture will require a minimumamount ofmetal.

Having described the invention what is claimed asnew is:

1. In a fluorescent lamp fixture having a ballast and sockets for effecting electrical connections; between the ballast and a lamp, an elongated tubular body of an internal size for receiving theballast with only a slight clearance, means for positioning the ballast longitudinally of the body and for anchoring it in position comprising a strap attached to the ballast at some point intermediate the endsof the strap, and means for anchoring the -ends of the strap to the ends of the tubular body, whereby the ballast will be held from transverse movement in the body by the inner surface of the latter and from longitudinal movement by thestrap.

1 2. Ina fluorescent lamp fixture having a ballast of non-circular cross section, and sockets for effecting an electrical connection with a lamp, a substantially cylindrical tubular body for supporting the ballast and the sockets, the inner dimensions of the body being substantially equal to the maximum transverse dimensions of the ballast whereby the ballast will be held against any substantial transverse movement relative to the body, means for holding the ballast in a fixedlongitudinal position, comprising a strap attached to the ballast at some intermediate point, and means for anchoring the ends of the strap to the body adjacent theends of the latter.

3. A body for supporting the sockets and the ballast ofa multi-lamp fluorescent lamp fixture comprising an elongated cylinder of a size to receive the ballast with a sliding fit, means for.

securing the ballast at an-intermediate position in the body comprising, a strap attached Lib. balast andextending topoints: adjacent the ends of;the,,b,ody, means forkanchoring the strap to the ballast, means for at leastmprtially closing the ends of the body,- comp rising-a bracket haying a flangefor lapping the ,end of-thebody, and means o rsec ring t e fiana to; thabody.

4; n afi scentalamp fixturerhavineabah last and sockets fol. efiectingelectrical-connec tionsbetween tlieballast a dza lamp, an-;elongatedtubular body of;an;internal sizeforreceiv ing the ballast with only a slight clearance, means; for positioning theballastlongitudinallyol the body andfonanchoring it;in position comprising;

a strap attached to the ballast at some point in,-. termediate the;ends of thestrap, and means in cooperative engagement with the ends of the "strap for resisting forces tending to move, the

strap and ballast longitudinally in. the tubular body.

HaRRxU. scnocxn'rr. 

